It is a character that can be quickly recognized by an audience.
When are they used?
They are most commonly found in Commedia productions, but they can be found in more recent productions too.
Stock Characters can be separated into multiple categories, some include:
The old men
The Lovers
The Zanni
etc
Typical Stock Characters
Character
Arlecchino
Brighella
Pantalone
II Dottore
Isabella
Name
-This is a testimony to the mystery of where
his name came from.
-In Italian, ‘ino’ is a
dismuntive .
-Bigga= Trouble.
-Brigare= Intrigue or Wrangle.
-Imbrogalie- To deceive or confuse.
‘No clear origin.
-It was semi- proverbial by 1658,
whatever it’s origin.
-No clear origin.
-Maybe a tribute to his inability to
many any clear suggestions without
also contradicting himself.
-Taken from the 16th century
character Vittoria.
-The name is associated
with Isabella Andreini. She
joined the troupe of Gelosi.
Status
-He is a servant.
-Usually Pantalone’s
servant, but sometimes
also ll Capitano or
ll Dotore. The later the show
was created, the important the role was.
-He is always to be seen with his Zanni
-The Boss.
-The Jack-of-All-Trades.
-He is a leader.
-He is often associated with wealth.
-Single.
-If he does marry, the wife usually has an affair.
-Needy.
-High Maintenance.
Props
A slap-stick.
-Dagger.
-Guitar.
-Gold chain with a gold medallion.
-Dagger.
-White handkerchief.
-N/A
Speech
-Speaks either continuously or not at all.
-Never talks just to talk.
-Melodious.
-A combination of Bergamese and Tuscan.
-High pitched.
-Sounds similar to a chicken squawk.
-Speech is slurred
-S= sh
-Refine.
-Elegant.
Origin
-Maybe France, 16th century.
-Val Bremhama in Bergamo.
-Of the Upper City of Bergamo-- the
inhabitants are considered wittier than
of the lower side.
-“God of the dying year at Carnival."
-A carnival figure that often also appears in folk plays.
-Developed from Innamorata.
Character Traits
-Below average intelligence.
-Athletic.
-Astute.
-Ready.
-Funny.
-Witty.
-Thinks that money can buy everything.
-Greedy.
-Similar to Pantalone, but he has no money.
-Makes many vulgar jokes
-Likes pornography.
-Flirtatious.
-Stubborn.
-Provocative.
Character
II Capitano
Colombina
Pedrolino
Pulcinella
Scapino
Name
-Self appointed.
-Some variations
Colombina
have him as
never servings
captain.
-The role was originally
called Sobretta (France),
but the name later
became Colombina.
-Other variations
this character are,
Franceschini, Oliva,
Lisetta, etc.
-1547, but then re-emerged in 1570, and then 1598.
-Translates to
‘Little Chicken.'
-Means to flee.
Status
-Loner.
-Personal maid to Isabella.
-This role was often given to the youngest son.
-Lower class.
-He is often made fun of because of his cowardliness.
-Employee or employer.
-First Zanni.
Props
-Long sword.
-Basket
-N/A
-Cudgel
-Slap-stick
Speech
-Speaks in a low voice, but w
hen he is frightened his voice becomes high- pitched.
-Sharp.
-Gossipy.
-A light voice, high pitched.
-A chicken like squawk.
-Chatterbox.
-N/A
Origin
Two possible Origins:
-Miles Glorious and Eunuchus. -Fake Spanish Mercenary.
-French.
-Linked with Roman Theatre.
-N/A
-Most likely derived
from Atellenae.
-Created
by Franceso
Gabrielli.
-This character
was
derived
from
Brighella.
Character Traits
There are four ways this character is portrayed:
-Political.
-Cowardly.
-Courageous.
-Unmasked--
because he’s
too good looking.
-Rational.
-Self- sufficient.
-Self- educated.
-She seems to have
some sort of sexual education, but in some productions, a virgin.
-He pretends that he is emotionless.
-Only vents his feelings when he is alone.
-Always honest.
-Either played as
a stupid guy
pretending to
be smart or
the other way
around.
-Likes to fight.
--His personality from production to
production can vary. He can be sly, gullible, jealous, etc.
-Makes everything confusing.
Works Cited: Rudlin, John. Commedia dellarte: an actors handbook. Routledge, 1994.
“° COMMEDIA DELL' ARTE °.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/258394097340834729/.
“Commedia Dell'arte characters.” YouTube, 9 May 2009, youtu.be/ZUnaNTfTzuM.
Stock Characters
What is a stock character?
It is a character that can be quickly recognized by an audience.When are they used?
They are most commonly found in Commedia productions, but they can be found in more recent productions too.Stock Characters can be separated into multiple categories, some include:
his name came from.
-In Italian, ‘ino’ is a
dismuntive .
-Brigare= Intrigue or Wrangle.
-Imbrogalie- To deceive or confuse.
-It was semi- proverbial by 1658,
whatever it’s origin.
-Maybe a tribute to his inability to
many any clear suggestions without
also contradicting himself.
character Vittoria.
-The name is associated
with Isabella Andreini. She
joined the troupe of Gelosi.
-Usually Pantalone’s
servant, but sometimes
also ll Capitano or
ll Dotore. The later the show
was created, the important the role was.
-The Boss.
-The Jack-of-All-Trades.
-He is often associated with wealth.
-If he does marry, the wife usually has an affair.
-High Maintenance.
-Guitar.
-Dagger.
-Never talks just to talk.
-A combination of Bergamese and Tuscan.
-Sounds similar to a chicken squawk.
-S= sh
-Elegant.
-Of the Upper City of Bergamo-- the
inhabitants are considered wittier than
of the lower side.
-Athletic.
-Ready.
-Funny.
-Witty.
-Greedy.
-Makes many vulgar jokes
-Likes pornography.
-Stubborn.
-Provocative.
-Some variations
Colombina
have him as
never servings
captain.
called Sobretta (France),
but the name later
became Colombina.
-Other variations
this character are,
Franceschini, Oliva,
Lisetta, etc.
‘Little Chicken.'
-Lower class.
-He is often made fun of because of his cowardliness.
hen he is frightened his voice becomes high- pitched.
-Gossipy.
-Chatterbox.
-Miles Glorious and Eunuchus.
-Fake Spanish Mercenary.
-Linked with Roman Theatre.
from Atellenae.
by Franceso
Gabrielli.
-This character
was
derived
from
Brighella.
-Political.
-Cowardly.
-Courageous.
-Unmasked--
because he’s
too good looking.
-Self- sufficient.
-Self- educated.
-She seems to have
some sort of sexual education, but in some productions, a virgin.
-Only vents his feelings when he is alone.
-Always honest.
a stupid guy
pretending to
be smart or
the other way
around.
-Likes to fight.
--His personality from production to
production can vary. He can be sly, gullible, jealous, etc.
Works Cited:
Rudlin, John. Commedia dellarte: an actors handbook. Routledge, 1994.
“° COMMEDIA DELL' ARTE °.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/258394097340834729/.
“Commedia Dell'arte characters.” YouTube, 9 May 2009, youtu.be/ZUnaNTfTzuM.
alliemce17. “Stock Character.” YouTube, YouTube, 11 Jan. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ1IG6VCoeU&feature=youtu.be.